About the Program
Coordinators
- Michael Morrow, Ph.D., Professor and Director of Counseling
- Warren Haffar, Ph.D., Professor and Director of International Peace and Conflict Resolution
Program Overview
Trauma affects millions of people worldwide each year. Individuals affected by natural disasters, war, ethnic conflict, and gender-based violence can suffer long-lasting psychological symptoms that cause significant personal distress and interfere with optimal functioning. Despite this, trauma survivors’ psychological needs frequently go untreated.
The combination of two master’s programs at Arcadia, Counseling with the Trauma Concentration and International Peace and Conflict Resolution, gives students a unique multidisciplinary program not found elsewhere. Students with training in both trauma-specific counseling and international peace and conflict resolution will be well-positioned to plan and implement programs that facilitate psychological recovery from violence and natural disasters, both domestically and abroad.
This program is for students with specific interests in trauma recovery at an international scale, as well as for students interested in serving the increasing number of refugees and asylum seekers within the United States. In order to do relief work abroad, agencies increasingly require professional credentials, this program fulfills the requirements to become a Licensed Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania.
Full-time or part-time
If completed on a full-time basis, the dual program will take three years or longer depending on individual student’s needs and preferences. Since both programs have part-time options, adapting student’s schedule is easier than fitting additional courses into a full-time program block schedule.
Counseling Goals and Objectives
The Master of Arts program in Counseling (MAC) educates and socializes students to become practitioners skilled in the art of behavior assessment and change. Coursework integrates theory and practice both within and outside of the classroom.
The Counseling program is structured to develop professional-level competence in:
- Applying an evidence-based model of counseling
- Integrating multicultural practice in counseling
- Developing the professional skills to pursue specific careers in counseling
- Incorporating self-care into their counseling careers
Moreover, students in this dual degree complete a specialty counseling concentration in trauma with courses that focus on short-term interventions and long-term care with emphasis on evidence-based treatments of trauma, strategies for treating grief and bereavement, as well as advocacy and social justice.
International Peace and Conflict Resolution Goals and Objectives
The IPCR program’s innovative curriculum allows students to develop an area of concentration within the discipline of international peace and conflict resolution, build an international network of contacts among the international conflict resolution community, and gain practical experience in the field. The IPCR program is structured to develop competencies in:
- Theories and dynamics of conflict and resolution
- Tools and techniques of conflict management, conflict resolution and conflict transformation
- Knowledge of the methods used to diffuse conflict on a variety of levels—interpersonal, groups and institutions
- An appreciation for the contributions of other disciplines to the field of peace and conflict resolution
Students can complete specialized courses in areas of a student’s choosing, including international law, sustainable development mediation, health, and human rights.
Benefits of the Dual Degree Program
Arcadia students have opportunities to integrate counseling and conflict resolution principles to service individuals affected by traumatic circumstances. These opportunities may include community projects and internships that will enhance their clinical and community-based skills, both within the United States and internationally, if desired.
Dual degree students gain a greater understanding of the scope of both counseling and international peace and conflict resolution issues surrounding communities and individuals living in post-conflict societies.
The dual degree combines the advocacy agendas proposed by both international peace and conflict resolution and counseling/trauma psychology field to most effectively address communities’ and individuals’ problems in post-conflict societies.
Internship Possibilities
In this dual degree program, students complete separate internships in the Counseling program and in the IPCR program. Though these are separate internship experiences, there are opportunities for students to work in placements that allow them to combine their Counseling clinical training with their IPCR training. Such internships can prepare students to serve populations who have experienced traumas both at home and abroad, as well as address both individual and systemic causes of distress. As the fields of counseling and IPCR both have a strong advocacy component, it is invaluable for students to pursue internships that integrate both perspectives. These internships will be arranged on an individual basis with the Counseling and the IPCR program directors. Students also have separate faculty advisers in both academic programs.
Accreditation
The Counseling program (MAC) is accredited by the Masters in Psychology Accreditation Council (MPCAC).
Admission Requirements
Dual degree candidates must be admitted to each of the programs in order to enroll in the dual degree program.
The following requirements must be met:
- A graduate application, including personal statements, to be completed online at www.arcadia.edu/gradapp.
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A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a recommended GPA of 3.0 or better and preferably a major in Peace Studies, Political Science, History, Economics, Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology, Philosophy, Religion or another liberal arts discipline.
- One official transcript from each college, university or professional school attended. Transfer credits included on a transcript must include grades earned; if not, an official transcript from the original school must be submitted. Transcripts must be sent from the issuing school in a sealed envelope and contain the appropriate signatures and seals to be considered official.
- Completion of at least three Psychology courses, (must include Introductory Psychology), with grades of “B” or better in each.
- Three letters of recommendation. The letters must be of a professional not personal nature. If the student has been out of school five years or less, at least one letter must come from a professor.
- Separate interviews with the Counseling and IPCR departments (by invitation only).
- International applicants should visit www.arcadia.edu/international for detailed information on admission requirements and application procedures. Official results from the TOEFL or IELTS are required for all students for whom English is a second language except for non-native speakers of English who hold degrees or diplomas from post-secondary institutions in English-speaking countries (e.g. the United States, Canada, England, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand). A course-by-course evaluation of all transcripts by an independent evaluation service based in the United States also is required.
Deposit Deadline
If an offer of admission is accepted, a $500 deposit must accompany the acceptance reply. This deposit is applied to the first semester’s tuition and is non-refundable. Specific deposit deadline dates will be noted on acceptance letter.
Deferred Admission
A student admitted to the program who wants to defer admission for one year must submit a request to do so in writing to the IPCR Program Director. Deferrals will be granted by the program on an individual basis. Once the deferral is granted, a student must submit the required deposit to reserve his or her seat in the class. This deposit will be credited toward tuition. A student who is granted a deferral must understand that he or she will be subject to the prevailing tuition at the time of matriculation to the program.
Expenses
2020-2021 Tuition: $1,260 per credit for IPCR
$790 per credit Counseling
Additional Expenses
- Books and supplies: $2,000 (estimated)
- Room and Board: Off Campus
- Travel: Varies
- Ireland Trip: $495 (subsidized)
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available to assist qualified students in covering tuition and related expenses, as well as living costs. Upon review for admission, students are automatically considered for merit scholarships and graduate assistantships based on their academic records upon applying for admission to the program. Graduate students who have been accepted into a degree program and are enrolled for at least 6 credits per semester are eligible to apply for financial aid. Please visit wwww.arcadia.edu/finaid for information regarding available aid options and visit www.arcadia.edu/gradfinaidapply to complete required forms online.
Federal Loans
Graduate students are eligible to borrow through the Federal Direct Stafford Loan and Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan programs provided they are taking at least 6 credits per semester (in the summer, 6 credits over all summer sessions combined satisfies this requirement). For more information, visit www.arcadia.edu/finaid.
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